Contract details have emerged regarding Vasilios Barkas as the Greek keeper underwent his Celtic medical and is expected to be officially announced soon.
The deal is done and dusted as Celtic have managed to sign Vasilios Barkas from AEK Athens. The Greek international was pictured in Glasgow earlier today and has already completed his medical with the club. His move is expected to be officially announced tomorrow.
A lot of different numbers have been thrown around regarding the move by the media but now it looks like things are becoming clearer as the move nears completion. Celtic will be paying AEK Athens €5 million up front with bonuses of a minimum €1 million based on his performances. The Greek side will have a 10% sell on clause in his contract.
When it comes to the player, Celtic will be signing him on a three-year deal with an option to extend for another year. What he will earn as wages is not still clear but the number that has floated around in the media is about £10-12k per week, which is very reasonable.
As reported by Gazette.gr:
"On Wednesday (29/7), Barkas underwent the necessary medical examinations, while the last details of his contract with Celtic were settled. In fact, the 26-year-old goalkeeper visited the training centre of the club and met his new coach, Neil Lennon and his technical staff.Now all that remains is for the signatures to fall formally and then to be announced by Celtic. This will happen on Thursday (30/7) in the morning when he will visit Celtic Park where he will then make his first statements.As for the contract that Barkas will sign, the information states that it will be valid until 2023 with an option for another year.We remind you that AEK will put in its coffers 5 million euros and a minimum of 1 million more from the goal achievement bonus, with the Union maintaining a 10% resale, in the most expensive sale of a footballer in its history."
This is certainly a major coup for Celtic after they had been dealt a blow in their chase to bring back Fraser Forster to the club for another season-long loan as the Englishman rejected the move in favour of fighting for his place at Southampton. As it turns out, Barkas might actually be the better option.
He has top level experience playing for a side like AEK Athens in the competitive Greek Super League and has played in the UEFA Champions League group stage as well. Last season he maintained an impressive 16 clean sheets in 33 appearances and at 26 years of age he is yet to hit his prime. The fact that he already has represented Greece on 10 occasions is just further proof of his quality. Celtic should be very happy with this deal.